ORANGE mayor John Davis spoke in glowing terms of the contribution of Dr John Lambert to Orange’s health services at a civic reception hosted in the doctor’s honour at Orange City Council on Tuesday night.

He presented Dr Lambert with gifts from Orange and an honorary citizenship award in farewell as he is moving to Sydney to head up the state’s newly established eHealth unit to service the state’s hospitals.

Dr Lambert said he felt very humbled by the civic reception.

“It was lovely and I really appreciate all the thoughts and best wishes, but I was just one person involved in the setting up of the new hospital.

“While I came here to do a job to set up intensive care services, there were many other people who made a huge contribution to the system and the hospital we have today in Orange and the Western Local Health District,” Dr Lambert said.

Councillor Russell Turner who put to council there should be a civic reception for the popular doctor said during the time he was member for Orange he became aware of the efforts of Dr Lambert.

“His name kept coming up with all aspects associated with the hospital - he will be sorely missed."

In a gracious gesture at the civic reception Cr Turner told those who attended, including councillors, medical personnel and members of the public, the former Labor government is to be credited for its commitment to establishing a $300 million hospital in Orange rather than refurbishing the old Orange Base Hospital.

Cr Davis said Orange now has a state of the art hospital of which the city can be proud.

“A hospital is only as good as the people who work in it and John Lambert was a first-class clinician.

“This city is better off for the time he spent here,” he said.

At the civic reception Dr Lambert said it wasn’t part of his future plan to move to Sydney until he was offered a new role.